Pump-valve



I (NoModeL) A. J. HOPKINS.

PUMP VALVE.

Patented Mar. 31, 1891.

milllllljllllllliillil l NITED STATES PATENT 'FFICEQ ANDREW J. HOPKINS, OF BEAVER FALLS, PENNSYLVANIA.

PU M P-VALVE SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 449,533, dated March 31, 1891.

Application filed January 17, 1891. Serial No. 378,075. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, ANDREW J. HOPKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Beaver Falls, in the county of Beaver and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pump -Valves, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has special reference to avalve of novelconstruction for use more particularly in connection with that character of pumps illustrated in my pending applications for Letters Patent, serially numbered 351,096 and 354,328, respectively. The construction and operation of this valve are such that real and substantial advantages are gained by its use, the general action of the apparatus being rendered more efficient and positive thereby; This will fully appear from the following description, with proper attention to the annexed drawings, to which reference will now be hadthat is to say:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of a pump in which my invention is embodied. Fig. 2 is an under side view of the top or covering-cap detached, showing my improved valve inounted thereon. Fig. 3 illustrates separate views of the counterbalanced valve and the spring pivotal wire therefor.

In order to a clear understanding of my improved valve, I shall at the outset refer briefly to the general construction of the apparatus, and then describe in detail the said valve, defining particularly in the claims so much thereof as I now believe to be within the scope of my invention.

Referring to the annexed drawings, a represents the main chamber of a double-acting pump; Z), the piston reciprocating Within said chamber, and b the rod which carries the piston.

0 is the suction-pipe leading into the bottom of the main chamber, normally closed by the check-valve d to prevent backflow from said main chamber.

6 is a side conduit extending from the upper end of the suction-pipe longitudinally up the exterior of the main cylinder into one end of a U-shaped passage f, formed in the upper cap f of the main cylinder, the opposite end of said passage discharging into the upper end of the cylinder.

g is a similar side conduit on the other side of the main cylinder at its lower end opening into the lower end of the main cylinder. At its upper end this side conduit g opens into the lower end or bottom of a valve-chamber it, formed on the side of the main chamber. The open top of this chamber is closed by the cap f, and the discharge-pipe 2' of the pump opens through said cap into the top of the valve-chamber. The bottom of the valvechamber is inclined downwardly and inwardly toward the wall of said main cylinder, and is provided with port j, and the vertical wall separating said valve-chamber and the main cylinder is provided with port is from the main cylinder into said chamber. Within the latter is loosely contained a V-shaped valve L, whose function is alternately to open and close the ports j and k, respectively, when the, piston is reciprocated, as described in my previous applications hereinbefore referred to.

Mypresent improvement resides in the construction of the valve M, which regulates the inflow of water to the upper end of the main chamber a. This valve I shall term a balance-valve. That port f which opens into the upper end of the main chamber from the U-passage f in the upper cap is provided with this balance-valve M, such valve being adapted to close said portwhen the piston is on its upward stroke. This valve consists of a metal plate m of proper shape and size for its intended purpose, which plate is provided with two rearwardly-projecting curved arms m, which are suitably pivoted at x in and between perforated lugs m depending from the under side of the cap f, with near relation to the said port, as shown, so that the plate is swung immediately below the latter. This plate is faced with leather or other appropriate yielding material on its upper surface to form a tight joint with the edges of the said portwhen the plate is forced upward into closing position. The arms m are so constructed with respect to the plate as to act as a counter-balance therefor to maintain the plate normally in either position-to wit, closed or open-which it may be caused to assume,yet permit said plate to be easily moved to the opposite position when slight pressure is applied to its under or upper surface, as the case may be. When the piston has reached the limit of its upward stroke, the closing pressure upon the valve-plate is removed, yet said plate is held in its up or closed condition by the counterbalancing action of the arms m. The water which is now directed to the main cylinder by way of the passage f from the conduit 6 impinges against the upper surface of the valve-plate, and perforce opens the same, the action of the arms at this stage maintaining said plate in the down or open position. The outer or free ends of the arms m are beveled on their upper surfaces, as seen, so that such ends abut squarely against the opposed side of the cap when the valve-plate is open, and thus act as a stop or stops to limit the downward movement of said plate. Although the valve may be pivot-ed in and between the dependinglugs m in any way mostconvenient or desirable, yet- I prefer to pivot said plate in the manner represented in the drawings-that is to say, I take a piece of spring-wire s, impart a substantially U form thereto, and bend the free ends of the wire upward, as aty, and then inward to form the in-springingstuds or projections s. The wire thus formed is disposed against the under side of the cap in such wise that the studs 3' are sprung into the perforations p in the lugs m and into similar perforations 19' in.

the arms m, which register with said perforations 1). Thus the valve is nicely and delicately pivoted to the lugs, yet said valve may be very readily detached therefrom by the mere act of withdrawing the ends of the wire I prefer to elongate the port f of the pas- 1 sage f, as shown, so as to facilitate the dis- 1 charge of water into the main chamber a. In 1 the present instance this port is segmental in shape, the valve-plate being of course properly formed to seal up effectually said port at the alternate intervals.

In view of the fact that the present improvement is devoted more particularly to the balance-valve and its immediate adjuncts I have not deemed it necessary to describe minutely and in detail the construction and arrangement of the pump as a whole, the same, I think, being obvious to one skilled in this branch of the arts, especially so in view of my previous applications aforesaid.

Although I have herein shown and described that which appears to be the best and most practicable embodiment of my invention,yet I do not confine myself to the special construction of elements disclosed, as the same may be variously modified without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and wish to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination of the cap provided with the perforated depending lugs and the valve mounted between said lugs and provided with perforations registering with those in the lugs, together with the spring-wire bent into cent perforations in the lugs and valve, respectively, so as to afford pivots for said valve, substantially as described.

2. In a pump, the combination of the cap provided with the perforated depending lugs, the valve-plate, and the rearwardly-extendin g arms thereon, said arms mounted between the lugs and provided with perforations registering with those in the lugs, together with the U- shaped spring-wire bearing against the under side of said cap, and having the inprojecting ends which extend through the adjacent perforations in the lugs and arms, re-

spectively, substantially as described.

ANDREW .T. HOPKINS. Nitnesses:

JOHN R. NOLAN, JEssn HELLER. 

